Hingis takes rest of the year off after latest defeat

The former world No 1 Martina Hingis has announced she is to take a break from the game. The 22-year-old has struggled since her return in August from an ankle operation and on Thursday lost to Elena Dementieva in a WTA event in Filderstadt, Germany.

She subsequently announced her withdrawal from the Swisscom Challenge but at a press conference to explain the reasons behind her withdrawal, Hingis revealed she was taking a complete break from the game.

"I will not play any more tournaments this year. I need to free my mind," she said. Hingis also hinted she may not return in time for the Australian Open. "That is not decided, that remains open, I have set myself no dates."

In Vienna the fourth seed Carlos Moya held his nerve to beat the American James Blake 7-6, 3-6, 6-1 yesterday and secure a ticket into the last four of the indoor CA Trophy.

But the local hero Jürgen Melzer, the wild card conqueror of the top seed Tommy Haas in the second round, failed to tame the fifth seed Jiri Novak and bowed out 6-4, 6-2 in an hour.

Moya, traditionally a claycourt specialist but who is increasingly at home on the hard courts, could leapfrog Britain's Tim Henman into fifth place in the ATP Tour champions race if he wins the final on Sunday.